What is a Surface Water Management Plan?
Surface Water Management Plans (SWMPs for short) identify various flood risks and outline the preferred strategy to mitigate these risks. The plans include a detailed long-term co-ordinated action plan to influence planning, investments, maintenance and community engagement.
View and find more about SWMPs here: Surface Water Management Plans
SWMPs have been completed for: Braintree and Witham, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Clacton on Sea, Colchester, Harlow, Loughton, Lower Sheering, Maldon, and South Essex (Inc. Rochford, Castle Point and Basildon)
We produce our SWMPs with the involvement of key partners including the Environment Agency, Local districts, Anglian Water, Thames Water and Essex Highways.
SWMPs help identify Critical Drainage Areas (CDAs) which can be found on our flood risk and asset register map.
What are the benefits of SWMPs?
- helps us to meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and Flood Risk Regulation 2009
- Increased understanding of the causes, probability and consequences of surface water flooding;
- Increased understanding of where surface water flooding will occur which can be used to inform spatial and emergency planning functions;
- A co-ordinated action plan, agreed by all partners
- Identifying opportunities where SuDS can play a more significant role in managing surface water flood risk;
- Increased awareness of the duties and responsibilities for managing flood risk of different partners and stakeholders;
- Improved public engagement and understanding of surface water flooding.